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Time--2017 A to Z Theme

My theme for the 2017 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge was "Time". The posts are of a more philosophical, contemplative, and even autobiographical bent. No time management tips in this theme, but stuff intended to make you think.

Always a work in progress--welcome to my blog...

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Friday, November 18, 2016

Why I Voted for Donald Trump for President

For my most recent Battle of the Bands please visit here and then vote for your favorite song version. My results post for this Battle will be up on Monday November 21st. In this current post I am continuing my President Trump Acclimation Series.

My series comes about from having been asked the question, "How could you vote for Donald Trump knowing all the bad things he had done?" That's one of those loaded questions that doesn't come with any simple answer in order to properly respond. That's why I decided on a series. I ask for readers to listen with an open mind as I will address the question in the broader context that is summated in the oft repeated litany of accusations summarized in Hillary's infamous deplorable statement:

"Racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, you name it."

I intend to address each of these negatives and more in future posts on this topic of my support for Trump, but I would rather begin with the positive side of my choice as I did not make my decision based on negativity. I voted for Donald J Trump because of positive elements I discerned from the man, his family, and his campaign. Yes, I do think there were positive elements involved. Those who agree with me will easily understand. And for those who disagree I only ask that you hear what I have to say with an open mind. If you are not willing to do that then as far as I am concerned your own opinions have absolutely no validity and no value and therefore cannot be taken seriously.

Agreement as well as disagreement is a two party action, but they both require listening and reasoning if either is to have any worth at all.

My Epiphanial Trump Moment

For decades now I've been looking for that special presidential candidate who embraced the practicality of business rather than the ideology of politicizing our world. Lofty ideas can be nice to dream about, but I'd much rather see actual results that lead to prosperity, security, and a better country in every way. The bottom line is that I've been relatively let down by most U.S. administrations in my lifetime other than the exception of Reagan who to my mind is more mythological in the greatness which has surrounded his years in office. My life was very good during his run so that helps fuel my perception of those years.

As indicated in the first installment of my series, for about four decades I was rather indifferent to the personage of Donald Trump--I knew a little about who he was, but I was not particularly interested in anything about him. In past elections I would hear his name floated as a possible candidate, but we always hear names tossed about as an election approaches. I can state outright that I was never a Trump fan nor did I think about him too much one way or another.

Then, on June 16th of 2015, when Donald Trump made his announcement to run for president, my attention perked as I took a more careful notice of the man. Looking at him and listening to what he had to say and how his words were delivered, I saw a genuine serious intention emanating from this well-known figure. What I saw was a man who knew what he was going to do and, more importantly, who knew that he was going to win.

Certainly I was likely somewhat guided by feelings--something that I for the most part look down on--but more importantly there was a strong internal sense based on my cumulative knowledge of the man and other perceptions that I cannot easily define in just a few words. So to put it succinctly, I knew immediately that Donald Trump was going to be the next president, that according to my deductive reasoning he would do a good job in the office, and that this would be the man whom I would be supporting in his presidential bid. Plain and simple--this was one of those things that came to me almost by divine messaging for lack of some better way of saying it.

The Rough Road to the Presidency

After the day of that initial announcement, I began to watch every rally, press event, or speech that I could. Sure, he had an unorthodox style, but that was one of the things that attracted me (as well as millions of others). Sometimes I would be shocked and cringe at some of the things he said, but thinking on them later I would get it. I was getting everything he had to say as did so many of his other fans. The news reporting was so different to what I was hearing from him, but that did not sway me and I will get to that aspect in a future post.

Nothing in his rallies, sessions with press, the debates, or anything else caused my support to waver from my earliest sense about Donald Trump. In upcoming posts I'll address all of the bad stuff that came out in the press, but as I've indicated earlier, this current post is about the positives.

You see, Trump had the supporters like me from the outset and like a snowball rolling down a really big hill, that support grew in size and strength. I was sold from the outset and though sometimes it seemed like everything was going to fall apart in Trump's campaign, he'd just bounce back stronger than ever and people would continue to flock to his appearances.

Considering my other choices, there were several Republicans in the initial running whom I thought were pretty good, but none moved me like Trump. Bernie Sanders had some interesting things to say and I kind of enjoyed listening to him, but there was not much practicality in what he was running on--not in my opinion at least--and I knew he did not have a chance. I won't even get into the subject of Hillary Clinton other than to point out that she has been followed by decades of scandal and over all I find her to be a very unappealing and untrustworthy candidate. Experience isn't always a good thing when we want a good thing done for our country. A continuation of the Clinton dynasty was cringe worthy to me.

Besides, I cannot support a Democrat Party which extols a platform consisting of many things that go against my Christian values so voting in that direction for me would be out of the question unless they put forth the most amazing candidate and I didn't see that candidate this time around.

The Peripheral Influences on My Support

Some might point out Trump's flaws and ask how I as a Christian could support such a man--well, I guess that is to some degree the gist of the questioning that leads to my blog series and, as I've already indicated I will address these negatives in upcoming posts. However there were many other things aside from Trump himself that solidified my stance on supporting him.

Firstly, I took note of the people who started speaking in favor of Donald Trump. Namely there were Christian leaders who were speaking out on his behalf and to me that added more evidence that I was seeing a positive in Donald Trump's candidacy. After the other Republican candidates dropped out of the race I took note of the ones who got on board the Trump Train. They were my favorites and the ones who railed against Trump were the ones for whom I didn't care as much. That told me something right there.

The more media people I saw talking against Trump and manipulating the words of the man and the stories surrounding him, the better I liked Trump. I have such a great distaste for so many in today's media that when they tried to knock Trump down it just made me like him more. In my opinion, aside from the horrible candidate choice in Hillary Clinton (don't cite her winning the popular vote as I have a response to that as well in a future post), I think the negative media coverage was a huge influence on Trump's popularity (more to come on that too).

Then there were Trump's kids. My wife and I both adore the Trump offspring. They appear to be intelligent, driven, and highly respectable. I think they epitomize the kind of adults most parents would hope their own children to one day become. To me, a man's children say a lot about the man and the Trump family instills a lot of respect in me for that family.

Finally, there were the people, the masses, supporters as well as the anti-Trumpers. I'd look at the rallies and see the exuberance in the faces of those attending. I knew it wasn't just me who liked Trump. We were an army. Looking at the other side it was like seeing a completely different army of foul-mouthed, anarchistic, aimless thugs and protesters. That was a big turn-off that completely discredited their cause as far as I was concerned. Mexican flags flaunted while American flags are stomped and burned. If that is the opposition to Donald Trump then I want no part of what they want.

I could go on about the positives, but this post has been long enough. What I will say in closing is that my biggest reason for voting for Donald Trump is that I feel and have felt from the beginning that there has been a divine force behind him from the beginning. It's not that I'm saying that he has been a man of God, but I am saying that over history I believe that God has used unconventional and even not particularly good individuals to do His work.

Some might poke fun at my final point, but it is my conviction and I will stand by it. I have prayed frequently about this election and have continued to be steered in the direction of Donald J Trump for President of the United States. Many have pushed back on my convictions and now I am certain that there are several people who have a negative opinion of me or my decision.

At this point in time I can say that I was absolutely correct in my expectation that Donald Trump would win the election. I sensed it from the beginning and this is what happened. I think he will continue to get a lot of media trashing which is unfortunate for the country. But in the end, I think Donald Trump will be a great president as long as the country and the world lets him. If I'm wrong, you can chide me about it later, but so far I've been correct about this election of 2016.

Feel free to comment as you will. I will have more points to address in my next many posts.

65 comments:

My comments are usually short but meaningful. I agree with everything you have said above. As a fellow Christian, I saw Trump as the only logical Presidential candidate. His stand on abortion, integrity, honesty--those are my own stands and beliefs. But, I did not see that Trump would get elected, simply because I saw Clinton as evil and manipulative, able to influence voters. Obama saying something about electing Clinton would be the same as electing him for a 3rd term...that scared me immensely. And Obama telling his black voters that he would be disappointed if Clinton wasn't elected. Talk about threatening.I have family in Arkansas who have warned about the Clintons for 4 decades. Bill was called "Slick Willy" and she was called a witch. This is/was their reputation. A retired Missouri State Policeman uncle had many fellow Arkansas State Police who had orders to bring Bill selected females to his office. Many men found jobs in Missouri Division for that reason.I could ramble on, but that is not the central issue. A man with morals and a long-view of what should be America had been elected. Trump has a big challenge ahead of him, but he knows about challenges.So, when I got up on that Wednesday, I rejoiced and gave God thanks, honor, and glory.

Susan K, I'd forgotten about that "Slick Willie" tag--I used to hear it all the time back in the 90's. No way did I want that 3rd Obama term and fortunately plenty of voters didn't want it either.

I know what you mean about rambling on and that's why I decided to embark on this series idea. I may lose readers because of it, but for those who truly want to hear my motivations (as they said they did) then I'm going to give it to them straight. I think Mr. Trump is starting off very well and the media has apparently learned no lessons as they continue on with foolish fodder.

Well I still think he's a hateful bully who makes fun of disabled people and hates anyone who isn't a straight, white man. If any other presidential candidate had a wife that had posed for naked pictures, the conservatives would have flipped their gourds but b/c Melania is hot, not a word was said. Trump's going to attack women's reproductive rights and try to overturn Roe v. Wade. And some of the people he is appointing to his cabinet are just horrible, racist, sexist pigs, esp. that Bannon. I have a lot of friends who have good hearts and I don't know how they can support someone who treats people like that. They wouldn't put up with it from friends or family.

And now we have a whole slew of Trump supporters who now think they have carte blanche to terrorize women and people of colour cause the President-elect says it's OK. Racist graffiti, children on school bus being let off last by a Trump supporting driver when he asked the kids who they would've voted for. Kids who said Clinton were let off last. Men terrorizing women in hijabs. A white high school teacher telling the black students they were being shipped back to Africa. You really think that's OK?

JoJo, that's a lot for me to address in the comment, but since I plan to touch on these topics in the future then I'll leave it all for then. Hope you can tolerate my reasoning and explanations in order to hear me out.

I would wonder from you where you've gotten all of the information that you invoke in your comments--some I've heard while some is new. I'm not okay with some of those things you've mentioned if they are real, but I am okay with truth and reason.

I am not going to try to change your mind about the new president with my comment, but I would ask you one thing-do you really think he would condone the actions in your last paragraph?

My latest post on my "Back In The USSR" blog is on this subject, and it's a sore point for me, and I am not a huge fan of the president elect, either.

Those are acts of small minds, and the actions of even smaller people. I do not believe for a second Mr. Trump would condone them.

Trump has some pretty questionable soundbytes that demonstrate some of the behavior you cite, but my take is he's more representative of the 'men's club' mentality of many successful men his age rather than someone who would sneak out nights in a white hooded outfit.

As an American, you have the right, and quite frankly the duty, to question your leadership, and I commend you for doing so.

I would just ask you that you not condemn the man for reprehensible actions on the parts of a fringe element in his support group (many of whom I suspect may not have even actually voted-far too stupid).

Larry, many of those "questionable soundbytes" have been grossly misconstrued and reconveyed to an audience that really doesn't know for themselves. When media is so outrageously biased as we have seen in this election the misinformation leads their audiences to believe things that aren't exactly true as well as ridiculous mythologies about the incoming President. I listened to many many of Trump's speeches and comments and never heard anything like what the media was often suggesting that Trump believed or even said. I've heard far more outrageous statements coming from the left and those concern me more than what Trump's side supposedly represents.

I respectfully disagree, Lee, at least with respect to the soundbytes I am referring to.

Clinton made good use of those sound bytes in her commercials, and unless you're the film was doctored, Trump has to own them-and some of them are pretty bad (making fun of a disabled reported, the comments about treatment of women, the "bomb the shit out of them" quote).

The fact that the left has said as bad or worse does not change the fact that Trump does not seem to have a filter, and that alienates many people.

However, that does not change the fact that accosting a black man at a Circle K in Tempe, AZ and saying all sorts of racist crap (happened to a friend of mine who should have, but did not, flatten the idiot) has anything to do with Trump.

But I am not sure you can claim what I am referring to is misinformation, and even saying they were taken out of context does not excuse them.

It was after seeing the commercial where Clinton showed Trump mocking the disabled reporter that I was convinced she would win big-I did not think there would be a way to recover from that.

I have a disabled cousin. Disabled does not mean dumb. Mocking people with a disability is mean. Mocking them on national television is even worse.

My comment to JoJo is actually meant to be in support of Trump, but I certainly understand where her misgivings are coming from.

Well if he doesn't condone them, then maybe he should make a stronger statement to them then an aside of 'stop it'. He's making a bigger deal about his horrible VP being taken to task at that Broadway show Hamilton than he is condemning what his fringe supporters are doing. I do not like the people he is appointing to his cabinet one bit. That Bannon guy is dangerously right wing. Have you heard the things he's said about women and people of colour? It's appalling. I was willing to give Trump a chance, but I fear we are headed into even darker times. They are going to set women's rights back 100 years. And if the poor and disenfranchised think he gives a crap about them, they are wrong. I maintain that he only cares about rich, white men.

JoJo, how can you say "I was willing to give Trump a chance" and yet give up on him before he has even started. I sense that you are making value judgments about people you don't really know other than what left leaning media is saying. I'm hearing the complete opposite from what you are stating here (and I heard some of the rationale for the fears of what is to come). I don't think any of us can say anything much until we have seen what is happening after the new administration starts. Every incoming administration is accompanied by a list of fears and misinformation that is disseminated by an assortment of the media outlets that oppose that new administration. We would be better to go into the year with optimism, support, but a cautious vigilance.

Larry, I will likely address some of your examples in upcoming posts so I won't go into them here. However, I will say that Trump was speaking to the common American like me so I heard what he said and understood completely, not from a standpoint of hate or anything like that, but for making America a greater place.

Clips from a speech, sound bytes, and whatever can be manipulated in any way a skillful propagandist would want to do. That is what has happened with Hillary's ads and even in the news reporting. There is a lot of dishonesty out there and a good many people have not only been duped to believe it, but also programmed to hate Trump, his supporters, and anyone who is a part of his administration. My greatest fear is not Donald Trump as president, but a malleable people who believe whatever comes their way across airwaves and in print. Our nation is being factionalized and divided by all this push back and negative chatter. Maybe we all need to start looking at things from a more positive perspective.

I agree the president-elect should make some sort of statement-even if it's simply denouncing what is being done allegedly in his name.

Lee-again, maybe I am taking you too literally, but the soundbyte I am focusing on is not manipulated-he mocked a reporter with a disability. You can go see it on You Tube, and I'm sorry-there isn't any scenario where that is ok.

And I bring that up, not as "negative chatter," but as an example of WHY the non-Trump people have a good reason to feel the way they do.

I am not stumping for Hilary, and her ads were mudslinging genius, but there's no denying the man said what he said.

I seem to remember a 2,000 year old book that advises us to "seek to understand."

That said, that was months ago, the election has happened, and you are right-all this behavior now is divisive.

If I were the president-elect, I might try to say a few words that might trigger some unifying behavior.

When I first saw the clip about Trump I wasn't thinking "disabled" because Trump gave no indication of a reporter who was disabled, but only flustered. Like I mentioned, I plan to do a more extensive post about the "disabled reporter" since it's one of the things so often cited by the anti-Trump folks.

I did not support Trump in the beginning, but as the campaign went on, I knew that HRC was not the person for the job. She seemed so very fake to me in every sense of the word. Not sincere. Not a compassionate person. And of course the criminal element was front and center. I do not want a President who is a criminal. I also do not like the Democratic platform, although I consider myself an Independent. The Republican platform is more in line with my personal beliefs. As for Trump, I did not like what he said about blaming GW Bush for 9/11 during the debates. I though GW was one of our best presidents. For that reason alone, I was against Trump. But as the time got closer to vote, I realized that I had to vote for him. The media reacting so strongly against him and the HRC campaign doing everything in its power to stop him. The government, the Republicans, the Media, all going against him, made me realize that he was probably God's man for the job. As a Christian I prayed about this for months, and I knew that God had chosen Trump for such a time as this. As a result, the cage of the world system has been rattled. They are out for blood. The irony is that while the proclaim the want fairness and justice, they seek to kill and destroy Trump and everyone who has voted for him.

Luana, I really like the way you expressed this. It was amazing how Trump managed to get past all the attacks to keep forging ahead. I don't know that any person could have survived all that he did without God's hand in there somewhere. I never did connect well with either party and GW was the first Republican I voted for as I did like him. He did let me down a bit during his presidency and there are some pretty convincing arguments that GW did have some forehand knowledge about 9/11 though I don't think he had anything to do with it.

It is so sad for me to read comments from here (not just this post) and elsewhere from people who have "drank the koolaid" of the DNC slanderers, MSM, and meme warriors and attack the man for crap that simply. isn't. true. What bothers me is not that they dislike Trump, as much as that you can tell that they refuse to step out of their agenda long enough to see him in any terms but the most negative things they have been spoon fed. And that it matters not to them the security risk that HRC was, the absolute con job her DNC cronies pulled on poor Bernie, or the fact that her "Clinton Foundation" was proven to be a financial Dead Sea- money comes in, but doesn't go out. But he's a bully because they don't like his abrasive style, he's a rapist because he had a locker room conversation, and he hates minorities because he would prefer to not let any MORE terrorists in to kill us all.

And then, in between idiotic protests and crying on FB about how scared they are for the future, they plead with us to "work together" which isn't much more than "Keep our policies in place and we won't cause trouble." But you know what, Lee, I get a little sicker of the crap every day. And I get a little sicker every time I try to defend my beliefs and I hear "don't spread your hateful, racist crap on my page." I know how they want to work together, and it is just the way Obama explained how he wanted to work together with McCain in 2008- "John, you lost." Well, guess what, guys- YOU lost. Now, if they really want to work together on things, to make a better America, I'm all for it. But the way the majority of them are acting now, I'm inclined to tell them to stuff it. My hope is that they'll get over themselves so we can work at getting this nation back on track. But as I told a liberal friend, "If you see me post a comment of, "drip, drip, drip," you will know I'm almost ready to load both chambers and fire. And it's gonna make this comment pale in comparison.

CW, the divisiveness is as weird as it is scary. Maybe the left is so firmly entrenched that there can be no acceptance unless it's their ways of doing things. We've come to a troublesome state here in the U.S.A. and I hope the new administration finds some creative but effective ways of dealing with the societal rift we're facing.

I didn't vote for either of them and agree with you that Bernie resonated with a lot of people. He may have won, who knows. Just as you pointed out about Hillary's comments about Trump and his fans, tagging the label 'socialist' on everything that Bernie said was misleading and fear mongering. I cringed with the thought of 'Slick Willie' back in the White House too. Yet we're not getting much better with Trump's reputation. His three wives deserve the credit for those beautiful children, I'm sure.I followed my gut with Trump and could see through a lot of what he was doing to groom the crowds so he could win. We shall see. It's the first president-elect that I have a feeling of dread about right at the outset. I think, as reflected in this comments to your post, it depends on where your got your news from and how you've been persuade to see the 'other' side. I'm still hoping for a more worthy candidate to be raised up in our political system that raises up the middle instead of playing to the left wing or the right wing. Perhaps a third party is the only way to do it and I think it's time to break up the strangle hold that the Republicans and Democrats have on all of us.Thanks for listening, Lee.

I believe that God is with us through everything in life. I have trouble thinking that God’s hand was in this and had a part in making him president. He appealed to a very ugly, not Godly, side of people. I do believe that God allows us humans to make choices and learn lessons from those choices.

MLQ, strangely our comments are reflective of what's happening across our nation. I'm not sure where this division is coming from, but I hold the media and popular culture in general largely responsible. There are other factors I'm sure, but hopefully things will happen in the months to come that will allow us all to see things in a more unified and positive way.

For now we should hope and pray and wait and see. That is the case no matter what.

While I'm not a supporter, the thought of another Clinton dynasty was scary.People were just tired of the lies of politicians. At any rate, he is now our president. We should support a hundred percent. His success means our success.

I realize that I'm in the minority (in the arts and entertainment industry) but I was also a strong Trump supporter and I knew that he was going to win. I never doubted it. I kept assuring my family that there was a strong silent Trump majority of supporters who would cast their votes on Election Day. I'm an educated white woman and I supported him through everything. Yes, I was offended by some of his remarks, but I also like that he was authentic. The mainstream media manipulated everything he said and did. I could not stand the thought of Hillary Clinton being elected. And as we learned, she wasn't able to cheat her way to the Oval Office. Of course i do not condone sexual assault, but none of those allegations were proven and the mere fact that they were only brought weeks before the election, in my mind made them suspect, combined with the fact that the women were represented by the very same attorney who represented the women who made false allegations against McCain. Most of the women have now recanted. The lewd comments that Trump made were said eleven years ago while he was an entertainer and not a politician. It bothered me that the media paid more attention to those comments than to the proven corruption of Hillary. I'm old enough to remember Bill Clinton's presidency and it was fraught with scandal. Why in the world would we want to elect someone who would enter the White House under a cloud of suspsion, under federal investigation and when we knew her tenure would be tainted by scandal? Hilary cannot tell the truth. That's a fact. She couldn't even give a concession speech because she was so enraged and was going crazy, screaming at her staff and family. Is that the kind of person we want running our country? She felt entitled to the office and she played dirty. Donald Trump offered the voters a change. He offered economic growth and has the business experience to back it up. I could go on and on, but you said everything I believe. I don't know where people get that he is a racist. It's ridiculous. His son in law is Jewish. I wrote a blog post about why I was voting for Trump and in that post I commented on his children being a true reflection of the man's character.I couldn't agree more with your post and I just hope that everyone will quit whining and give the president elect a chance. It's time for our country to unite because the longer we stay divided, the weaker we appear to our enemies. Thank you for your series and I look forward to reading more. I wrote this on my phone so forgive any error please.

McCarthy, you are such a silly fellow. As I sit here stroking my beard, I am coming to the conclusion that you are an anachronistic artifact from the 1950's. You should just go back to whatever weird country you came from.

You think you're so funny and smart? Well, you're not. I'm funnier and smarter. And I have a college degree. So there!

I lived in Arkansas when Bill was governor. The state ranked last or next to last in many things including schools during that time. I didn't vote for him and I sure wasn't going to vote for Hilary. No matter how hard the liberal media slanted things in her favor. Maybe we will have a woman president one day. I'm not a Trump fan, but I had one goal this election - it wasn't going to be Hilary.

L.Diane, Hillary couldn't even carry Arkansas in the election so I guess they left a bad impression on the voters of the state. I'd like to see a woman president one day, but not Hillary and not Michelle Obama. There are plenty of other good women to run for the office.

I'm surprised by the number of people who feel the need to justify their vote and I'm doubly shocked by the definition of thug for those who didn't vote for the 'winner'. But I'm also intrigued the reasoning that it was all to elect a businessman, and that this is that man!

DJT is a man who's filed bankruptcy to avoid paying his creditors, a man who has used 'immigrants' because they work cheap, if he pays them at all. A man who would not release his tax reports, and has threatened lawsuits to get his detractors to back down. (And please don't use your normal justification that the press created these lies.)

I can't say it any better than Neal Gabler does in his recent post, FAREWELL, AMERICA. I hope you'll read the entire thing. http://billmoyers.com/story/farewell-america/

"America died on Nov. 8, 2016, not with a bang or a whimper, but at its own hand via electoral suicide. We the people chose a man who has shredded our values, our morals, our compassion, our tolerance, our decency, our sense of common purpose, our very identity — all the things that, however tenuously, made a nation out of a country."

As he puts the alt-right in positions of power, as racists take office and get ready to pass legislation of hate. Fear is what is now permeating America!

Again, Neal said it better:

"We all knew these hatreds lurked under the thinnest veneer of civility. That civility finally is gone. In its absence, we may realize just how imperative that politesse was. It is the way we managed to coexist."

"If there is a single sentence that characterizes the election, it is this: “He says the things I’m thinking.” That may be what is so terrifying. Who knew that so many tens of millions of white Americans were thinking unconscionable things about their fellow Americans? Who knew that tens of millions of white men felt so emasculated by women and challenged by minorities? Who knew that after years of seeming progress on race and gender, tens of millions of white Americans lived in seething resentment, waiting for a demagogue to arrive who would legitimize their worst selves and channel them into political power? Perhaps we had been living in a fool’s paradise. Now we aren't."

"No more can we pretend that we are exceptional or good or progressive or united. We are none of those things.

"” That may be what is so terrifying. Who knew that so many tens of millions of white Americans were thinking unconscionable things about their fellow Americans? Who knew that tens of millions of white men felt so emasculated by women and challenged by minorities? Who knew that after years of seeming progress on race and gender, tens of millions of white Americans lived in seething resentment, waiting for a demagogue to arrive who would legitimize their worst selves and channel them into political power? Perhaps we had been living in a fool’s paradise. Now we aren't."

This is a large helping of crap. I felt no hatred of anyone, and I am really tired of having my rights as a conservative and a Christian being trampled on being called "working together" or "politeness". Maybe the left felt this way, but WE did not, and I truly wish those on the left would wake up and see what we REALLY think, how we REALLY feel, and maybe then we could actually work together on a knowledge basis. The dude that wrote that article has only minimal knowledge of either Trump OR why I voted for him.

Interesting....so it would seem Gabler holds Clinton forth as a woman who embodiesour values, our morals, our compassion, our tolerance, our decency, our sense of common purpose, our very identity — all the things that, however tenuously, made a nation out of a country?

Wow-talk about two different perceptions of the same person!

When I see Ms. Clinton, I see a greedy, self-serving, power-hungry "rhymes-with witch" with delusions of grandeur and a Napoleon complex.

While the media claims men like me who did not vote for her are misogynistic, let me go on record-I am not against the thought of a woman president-I just did not want it to be THAT woman!

Just like I was not against the idea of a black president-but I twice voted against the man who had the job for the last eight years because I did not like what he campaigned on.

At the risk of being a broken record (I say this above), it came across to me LOUD and CLEAR from both parties that the voters were tired of the same old crap.

Bravo, Yolanda. It's refreshing to hear something that isn't pro-Trump. The arguments are getting trite. We'll see if the man who likes his name emblazoned across HIS buildings will be able to step around HIS ego to make a success of his election win. Will America be great again? That remains to be seen. It would be more interesting to see how Trump would do without his 'advisors', related or not.

Lot of fascinating comments here. It was very interesting to read this week, both a thought out and well written post from the left (John Scalzi, well know sci-fi writer) and a well thought and well written post from the right.

Both post have their pros and cons and one really has to read between the lines just a little to completely understand both posts.

On a personal note, while I did vote for DT in the primaries, I did not vote for him (or her) in the election (went Libertarian instead). I simply felt at the time that he wasn't the right person for the job.

Not because of what everything else his detractors THINKS HE IS, but what I think he is. For me, my opinion is all that matters.

My friends, a lazy hands off/hands on approach by the GOP (for which they are very notorious) brought us here today, and now we have to make the best of it.

8 years ago, when our current one was elected, I decided to give him about six months to see what kind of job he would do. I'm also willing to give DT six months to see what kind of job he can do as well.

Ending on a personal note, my main concern is not the national screwed up political scene, which really doesn't affect me, and to a lesser extent, unless the commenters above are part of the "special" class of people that we like to pigeonhole into proper labels/terms, thus getting our collective panties in a bunch, shouldn't affect them either. It's the local political scene that everyone needs to worry about, because it's those policies/actions that will directly affect you the most.

GB, like him or not, Trump is going to be our next president barring some unique occurrence. We can give him 6 months to make our judgments, but in all likelihood he will be with us for at least 4 years. I for one am hoping for great success for the sake of this country.

While I generally agree with Yolanda's indictment of Trump, I think that we need to put such criticism on hold. I understand her anger and am sure that, had the election gone to Hillary, we would have heard similar invective from Trump fans. I do not agree with Gabler that America has died. We have survived other past Presidents who have been perceived, sometimes correctly, as incompetent. As examples from our past, there are few people who still see our invasion of Iraq or our support of So. Vietnam as justifiable.

I agree with Miller and Lee that Trump is entitled to 6 months to put together an administration and a program. Since he antagonized the bulk of Republican leaders during the campaign, I see a lot of work ahead of him if he is to get the support he will need from Congress. If we continue to insult each other, now that the election is past, we only solidify positions which may not prove to be correct.

Our economy is in a precarious position, and we the people are responsible. Our 70-year Golden Age probably ended in 2008. Our task now may be to survive in a world where we no longer call the shots.

No use rehashing anthing already said. In a nutshell, Lee, we are much more alike that I was aware.

Also, HRC would never get my vote and it has nothing to do with gender, believe me. No. More. Clintons.

I wish - no, pray - that the current Americans who find themselves in such an uproar would see this outcome for what it is. There's more than one voice in America. The media writes news rather than reports it lately (did you get sick of all the air time devoted to their wound-licking and mournful cries of "how could we get this wrong?). People are tired of the status quo. HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY. Not a small lunatic fringe.

Cherdo, the media licked it's wounds for what seemed like less than a day and then went back to their inane Trump bashing as though he had already served his term and failed. I want news on a news station and not endless talking about things and predictions of the bad things that are going to happen. For prophecy I'll listen to Christian shows that talk about those things. On the news station, if they have to chatter on about things, I wish they would find more topics and less divisive analysis.

I'm not an American, but my greatest fear from an American president is his stance on Climate Change.

I've seen footage of Trump from both Fox News and CNN, and a host of other news channels.

He does not believe we as mankind have any role in climate change, and is working to roll back the progress made at the Paris Summit.

I'm looking forward to your posts defending him: I have seen footages of him mocking the disabled and women, as well as incendiary statements on race and religion.

I've worked with you for a while, Lee, so I'll be reading the posts to know more about you as a person: because a polite and educated Trump supporter has been hard to find. I want to understand how a Christian person supports Trump, and will be reading your posts with interest in that regard.

Damyanti, a common theme you might see in my words as well as a few comments is that TV news is misleading folks with clips, snippets, and faulty analysis. I watched quite a number of Trump's speeches and followed his campaign and didn't see any of these negative things when placed in context.

I tend to agree with the scientists who say climate is cyclical. Our concerns as a civilized Earth should be clean air and water and acting as good stewards of the Earth. I think this is more like Trump's stance as well. In the past many years the U.S. air has been cleaned up to a great degree--no smog like they've been recently seeing in China. Environmental concerns are very real, but I do believe that there are some "climate change" fallacies and schemes going on. I have in mind the Solyndra example when Obama first was in office.

Polite educated Trump supporters are in the millions and I'd much rather be with them than those protesting whether peacefully or with violence. The Trump Movement represents the values that have made America a great nation which is in opposition to the socialistic globalism that has become so pervasive in the world.

Ha ha ha! "A polite and educated Trump supporter has been hard to find." THAT's a good one!

The Trump supporters are almost universally polite and educated. It is the Clinton and Obama supporters that are urging assassination, rioting in the streets, walking out of "college" classes, and demanding the destruction of the Constitution just because they lost. Oh... and voting as many times as possible, while urging illegals to vote. I personally know a family of 15 non-citizens that vote illegally, and vote straight democrat.

Oh... and the "educated" left is also the group that SCREAMS about climate change "consensus," while at the same time altering graphs and data to "prove" their theory, and shouting down dissenting voices. The left is certainly not educated, nor are they polite.

SBB6, generally speaking, Democrats and leftists tend to be the most crass and disruptive voices. They are far more apt to include profanity in their political complaining and tend to engage themselves in protests and disruptions far more often than the other side.

There is so much propagandist crap out there that the left and academia start believing all of it and continue to repeat it. Even when presented with evidence they would rather argue a point and then shut out the voices of the other side. Screw freedom of speech unless it's them that's speaking.

Climate change denial is a huge part of what I feel is wrong with humanity.

What many Americans fail to understand is that this planet is the only one that we have, and America is not the world. Irresponsible capitalism is the root cause of all the pollution in China, but that's because the West has exploited the East: all the polluting factories are now in the East while America goes into mindless consumerism, bigger cars, more plastic, more cheap clothes. The world can withstand only do much of Capitalistic greed.

Education that calls Climate Change a fallacy is what is wrong with our world. The percentage of ignorant Americans is staggering, some of whom think polluting the atmosphere of course has no effect on climate. Sadly, the rest of the world will pay the price for America's policies.

The world is terrified of Trump and his supporters, and I'm beginning to see why.

I'm officially terrified of you, Lee, and I don't say that lightly. I know I have no hope of changing your mind on climate change, because if you dismiss climate change as fallacy, then there's very little hope.

"We have all heard the scenario. The world is poised for ecological disaster because man is polluting the atmosphere and heating up the earth. Global warming will melt the polar ice caps and cause the oceans to rise, submerging large parts of Miami, New York City, and other coastal cities. If you live in Manhattan, you'd better move to South Jersey, or better yet, Omaha, Nebraska.

"You would think that with such predictions afoot, someone had been studying the data for a long time. At least, you would hope so. But global warming became the pet cause of environmentalists only in the late 1980s. Before then, some believed the earth was cooling, not warming. 'The drop in food output could begin quite soon, perhaps only in ten years,' Newsweek warned on April 28, 1975. 'The resulting famines could be catastrophic.' To stop global cooling, some experts proposed melting the Arctic ice cap! Now we are taught to fear exactly that. What is going on here?

"According to the most reliable summaries of the earth's surface temperatures for the whole globe, which go back no further than 1861, there was a warming period in the first half of the twentieth century, lasting from about 1910 to 1940. That was followed by a cooling period from 1941 to 1975. Since 1975, we have experienced a slight warming trend. The three periods combined give us a surface temperature increase of perhaps one degree Fahrenheit for the entire twentieth century."~ Tom Bethell (with degrees in philosophy, physiology, and psychology from Oxford University)

'THE POPULATION BOMB' is a best-selling book written by Stanford University Professor Paul R. Ehrlich in 1968. It warned of the mass starvation of humans in the 1970s and 1980s due to overpopulation...

The 2008 must-see documentary 'DEMOGRAPHIC WINTER' proves that our real problem is NOT overpopulation, but a lack of population replacement, which is going to end in disaster for most countries on the globe.

It's always one bogus scare tactic after another meant to gain greater governmental control over the people, leading to a one-world global government ruled by oligarchs. The demise of national sovereignty, will be replaced by a state of global corporate fascism.

And those who are falling for it, and unwittingly lobbying for it, accuse US of being "ignorant". Highly ironic!

Damyanti, your comment disappoints me, but I've been seeing and hearing a lot of disappointing things. And we see all the varying reasons for the disappointment, fear, anger, contempt for others, and so on.

You choose to believe what you will to the extent of totalitarian groupthink. Maybe that's where we'll all head one day--I can see that happening. I believe what I believe with a spirit of greater tolerance and adaptability. But if I literally terrify you then I guess that's what's in your head and I'll just have to accept that.

Just to toss out something that might seem random to some, but maybe will make some sense to a few:

“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:9-13

God gave us a big beautiful world which has managed to survive in spite of any of the abuse that humans can impose. Before we ever can come close to destroying our world we will first destroy each other.

STMcC, the United States and its ignorant people become the scapegoat in the eyes of a failing world and a liberal leftist agenda that would like to see us all wallowing in the cesspool of globalism. To me there is nothing wrong with maintaining a proud sense of national identity and retaining the sense of independent spirit from which this country arose.

You provide some good resources. I think the world has come a long way in cleaning up and preserving our environment with the United States at the helm. I've been hearing stories of the dying world and all since I was a kid so long ago. Well, the world ain't dead yet and our country has cleaner skies and better water than most countries. Why, damn, I don't even have to wear a surgical mask when I'm out in public and I actually drink water straight out of my tap--been doing so for years and so far I'm fine.

Damyanti, not just blog "friends"--we don't understand, or try to understand, many people. Nothing new, but now we have taken misunderstanding, distrust, and denigration of others to a far more vast level than ever before. It's said in a way, but I believe it is also inevitable. I think some wondrous things are ahead, but not things that everyone is looking forward to.

We dream and then when awake realize that the dream was limited to our own minds.

Well, damn! I guess we are all officially uninvited to Thanksgiving. Oh... or is it even politically correct to give thanks anymore? I guess not. Some ancient ancestor was mean to some native who lived here before. (And hopefully THEY were never mean to the people and or creatures who came before them!)

SBB6, the past condemns all those of Christian, European, Caucasian backgrounds. We are evil ones who never contributed anything of value to the world and only offered war, murder, ignorance, and climate change. Everyone else is so good and wonderful. Jesus, give me a break! And come to think of it Jesus did give me a break and that grace is offered to all of the world who will listen and receive. The listening is always the difficult part.

Lee, this is an awesome post, and I'm sure one of many to follow. I think that you have always taken care to be measured in your comments, and a diverse group of "followers" have accrued to you because of it. Now you have a chance to lead some of them to some facts that simply have not been covered by the mainstream media.

I would continue to emphasize to those that disagree before even having the discussion: "please give me a chance to have this dialogue with you. I want to remain on friendly terms with all my fellow bloggers. I want to engage in the meaningful discussion that so many say they want to have. Now is the chance to prove it. Stay with me for just a calm exchange of ideas."

SBB6, I like your recommendation even though I doubt whether it would have much influence. Getting people to listen to the voice on the other side is so difficult, but I think it's worth a shot. Coming soon will be some posts that some will find so upsetting and "offensive" that followers and readers might leave in droves. However, I believe that I am speaking with truth as my guide. We shouldn't be afraid of truth, but unfortunately many people fear truth so much that they will cover their ears and spout "na-na-nah, I can't hear you" and continue to recite their litanies of lies and epithets.

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

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A juggler of words and phrases. My main blog is Tossing It Out. The focus blog for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge can now be found at a-to-zchallenge.com where updates will be posted until the event in April begins.
Wrote By Rote is about memoir writing.
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